Clothing Article with Drawstring Assembly

ABSTRACT

A drawstring closure system includes a drawstring band assembly comprising a band assembly with a channel having a first open end and a second open end and a plurality of channel apertures located longitudinally along the channel. A drawstring is thread through the channel from the first open end to the second open end and has sufficient length to allow the ends of the drawstring to be drawn and tied. The channel apertures facilitate the insertion and reinsertion of the drawstring.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/843,486, filed Jul. 8, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes a drawstring band to facilitate a convenient means to reinstall a drawstring assembly into a drawstring channel of a garment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a multitude of clothing items that use a drawstring to fasten or secure the clothing. These items not only include hooded sweatshirts or “hoodies”, but also include sweatpants, windbreakers, swim trunks, and the like. Additionally, there are many non-garment items that use a threaded drawstring as a means of closure. While this common drawstring fastening system has worked well for years, it is not without its disadvantages. Perhaps the biggest disadvantage lies with the ease at which the drawstring can be accidentally removed, or partially remove so that one end becomes stuck inside the article of clothing. A knot is typically tied at an end of the drawstring to prevent such problems, but the knot itself is never quite large enough to prevent entry into the loop fabric area. The process to replace a removed drawstring is a timely process that is filled with aggravations. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which drawstrings in various types of clothing and other items can be easily reinstalled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention in providing a drawstring band assembly having a band assembly that comprises a channel with a first open end and a second open end and a plurality of channel apertures located longitudinally along the channel. A drawstring assembly is also provides a drawstring that is adapted to be thread through the channel from the first open end to the second open end using the channel apertures to assist in the threading of the drawstring. The drawstring, once threaded, has sufficient length to allow the ends of the drawstring to be drawn and tied by a user. The present invention can be constructed into an item or garment while it is being produced or constructed, or as a drawstring band assembly that is attached to an existing item at any time.

Thus, when the present invention is used in the creation of a drawstring closure item, the time to thread or rethread the drawstring item is greatly reduced and the ease to do so is greatly increased. Additionally, if the present invention is used to provide a separate drawstring band assembly to be attached to an existing item this provides a great advantage if the need arises to rethread the item.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a drawstring band 10 in a typical application in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a drawstring assembly 20 of a drawstring band 10 inserted into a drawstring channel 32 and emerging at a channel aperture 34 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the drawstring assembly 20 of a drawstring band 10 being reinserted into a channel aperture 34 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and,

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an attachable drawstring band 50 in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

10 drawstring band

20 drawstring assembly

22 tab

24 leader

26 drawstring

28 aglet

30 band assembly

32 drawstring channel

32 a channel first end

32 b channel second end

34 channel aperture

36 spacing interval

50 alternate drawstring band

52 attachable channel

54 channel hem

56 stitching

100 new article

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment, herein depicted within FIGS. 1 through 3, and an alternate embodiment herein depicted within FIG. 4. However, the disclosure is not limited to a single described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the disclosure and that any such work around will also fall under its scope. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only one particular configuration may be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.

The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.

The present invention describes a drawstring band (herein referred to as the “apparatus”) 10, which provides a means to more easily install or reinstall a drawstring assembly 20 into a drawstring channel 32 of an item equipped with the present band assembly 30 as opposed to replacing a broken or missing drawstring of a conventional installation. The apparatus 10 in one embodiment may be disposed about the open edge of a hood of a garment and be constructed integral to the garment as it is being produced. An alternate embodiment of the present apparatus 10 provides a means to install an attachable channel 52 to an existing garment in order to take advantage of the enhanced reinstallation technique of the drawstring assembly 20. Given the variability in the size of the items to which the apparatus 10 can be applied, it is understood that a multitude of different lengths of the drawstring assembly 20 and the band assembly 30 is possible without limiting the scope of the apparatus 10. It should be further understood and appreciated that although the apparatus 10 is illustrated as attached to the hood of a garment, it is not so limited and may be applied to other items such as a pair of pants, drawstring bags, or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an isometric view of the apparatus 10 installed in a new article 100 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus 10 comprises a band assembly 30, which is formed into a new article 100 at the time of fabrication, and a drawstring assembly 20. The band assembly 30 comprises a portion of the existing article 100 that is folded over upon itself to form a drawstring channel 32, having an open first end 32 a and a second open end 32 b, and secured by stitching, or other such fastening means appropriate to the constituent material of said new article 100. The drawstring channel 32 is provided with a plurality of channel apertures 34 comprising hemmed openings, or slits, evenly, or unevenly, spaced at spacing intervals 36 on the longitudinal axis of said drawstring channel 32. In one (1) embodiment, the channel apertures 34 are approximately one inch (1 in.) in length and the spacing intervals 36 are two inches (2 in.) to three inches (3 in.).

The drawstring assembly 20 comprises a drawstring 26, preferably having a plurality of strands of twisted cotton fiber or nylon material covered by a woven cotton or nylon jacket, a leader 24, and a tab 22. The drawstring 26 is envisioned to have an approximate width of one-fifth of an inch (0.2 in.) and the tab 22 is preferably flat in shape; however, other sizes and configurations can be used without deviating from the teachings of the apparatus 10, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the apparatus 10. The drawstring 26 alternatively comprises other textiles or combinations thereof without limiting the scope of the apparatus 10. The leader 24 preferably comprises a continuing length of the drawstring 26 extending to the tab 22, and is impregnated with a thermoplastic material to add a measure of flexural rigidity and provide a reduced surface friction to said drawstring 26. The leader 24 is envisioned to be approximately three inches (3 in.) to four inches (4 in.) in length and have a flat configuration; however, other lengths and configurations can be used without deviating from the teachings of the apparatus 10, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the apparatus 10. The tab 22 is preferably a piece of thermoplastic material formed at, and encompassing at least one inch (1 in.) of the free end of the leader 24. It is envisioned for the tab 22 to have a width of approximately one-fifth of an inch (0.2 in.) and have a flat configuration matching that of the string 26. A leader 24 and a tab 22 can be furnished on both ends of the string 26 or, alternately, an aglet 28 comprising a short leader 24 can be disposed upon one (1) end.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, isometric views of the installation of the drawstring assembly 20 into the band assembly 30 of the apparatus 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The tab 22 of the drawstring assembly 20 is fitted into the first channel end 32 a of the drawstring channel 32 of the band assembly 30. The leader 24 portion of the same drawstring assembly 20 is then threaded into the drawstring channel 32 until the tab 22 emerges from the first spacing interval 36 of said drawstring channel 32 at the first channel aperture 34 as seen in FIG. 2.

The tab 22 is reinserted into the same channel aperture 34 at the second spacing interval 36 as shown in FIG. 3. The leader 24 is threaded into the second spacing interval of the drawstring channel 32 until the tab 22 emerges from the said second spacing interval 36 at the second channel aperture 34. The string assembly 20 is thus threaded through each successive spacing interval 36 of the drawstring channel 32 until the tab 22 and the leader 24 finally emerge from the last spacing interval 36 at the second open end 32 b of said drawstring channel 32. The drawstring assembly 20 is now completely installed in the band assembly 30 by going through shorter iterations rather than being threaded through the entire length of the drawstring channel 32 in a technique of bunching and stretching of said band assembly 30.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an isometric view of an attachable drawstring band 50 of the apparatus 10 according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The attachable drawstring band 50 is intended to be attached to an existing item having a conventional drawstring, but for which a user would like to convert to the present apparatus 10 to more easily install a drawstring assembly 20. The attachable drawstring band 50 preferably comprises a strip two inches (2 in.) to four inches (4 in.) wide of material in keeping with the constituent material of the existing item such as stretch cotton or nylon. Given the variability in the size of the items to which the attachable drawstring band 50 can be applied, it is understood that a multitude of different lengths of the apparatus 50 is possible without limiting the scope of said apparatus 50. The material of the attachable drawstring band 50 is preferably folded over symmetrically upon itself to form an attachable channel 52 and a line of stitching 56 is sewn into the material along a longitudinal axis of the strip at a sufficient distance from the matched edges of the material strip to allow a channel hem 54. The channel hem 54 is that portion of the attachable drawstring band 50 that is subsequently attached to the edge of the existing article selected to receive said attachable drawstring band 50. The channel hem 54 may comprise both edges of the material strip as a result of a symmetrical fold, or alternately, the attachable channel 52 can be offset such that, after the stitching 56 has been installed, only one (1) edge of the material remains to constitute the channel hem 54 without changing the scope of the apparatus 50.

Disposed upon a side of the attachable channel 52 is a plurality of channel apertures 34 comprising hemmed openings, or slits, evenly, or unevenly, spaced at spacing intervals 36 along the longitudinal axis of said drawstring channel 52. In one (1) embodiment the channel apertures 34 are approximately one inch (1 in.) in length and the spacing intervals 36 are two inch (2 in.) to three inch (3 in.). The attachable drawstring band 50 utilizes a drawstring assembly 20 as previously described in the preferred embodiment of the apparatus 10.

In any of the embodiments described above, the apparatus 10 exists as a further alternative embodiment. In this alternative embodiment, the band assembly 30 is further impregnated with a thermoplastic material to add a measure of flexural rigidity and provide a reduced surface friction to an inside surface of said band assembly 30. With this added flexural rigidity, the band assembly 30 may be configured to create a drawstring channel 32 that has a shape complementary to the string 26.

It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the enabled user in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training The illustration in FIG. 1 would essentially represent a new article 100 purchased or otherwise acquired, with the apparatus 10. The most benefit achieved from employing this apparatus 10 would occur after the drawstring assembly 20 becomes removed from the drawstring channel 32 for any reason, allowing one to reinstall the drawstring assembly 20 into the drawstring channel 32. This reinstallation can be achieved by performing the following steps: inserting the tab 22 into either open end of the drawstring channel 32; sliding the leader 24 into the drawstring channel 32 until the tab 22 emerges from the first channel aperture 34 as seen in FIG. 2 (some additional manipulation of the leader 24 may be required to bring about the emergence of the tab 22 from the first channel aperture 34); threading a portion of the length of the string 26, slightly greater than the distance between successive channel apertures 34, through the first spacing interval 36 and out of the first channel aperture 34; reinserting the tab 22 back into the first channel aperture 34 directing it toward the second channel aperture 34; sliding the leader 24 into the first channel aperture 34 thereby directing the tab 22 through the second spacing interval 36 of the drawstring channel 32 between the first channel aperture 34 and the second channel aperture 34 until said tab 22 emerges from said second channel aperture as seen in FIG. 3; threading a portion of the length of the string 26 through the second spacing interval 36 while drawing any portion of said string 26 which projects from the first channel aperture 34 (as seen in FIG. 3) back into the drawstring channel 32; repeating the previous steps with each successive channel aperture 34 and spacing interval 36 until the tab 22 and the leader 24 are drawn through the open end on the opposite side of the drawstring channel 32; thread the drawstring assembly 20 through the drawstring channel 32 until equal portions of the length of said drawstring assembly 20 appear at both ends of said drawstring channel 32 and no portion of the string projects from any of the channel apertures 32.

The alternate embodiment of the present apparatus 50 can be utilized by fastening the channel hem 54 to an existing article at a desired location, preferably by stitching with thread of an appropriate material such as cotton or nylon. The direction and orientation of the installation of the attachable drawstring band 50 will of course be at the discretion of the user, however, a preferred installation would be similar to the illustration of FIG. 1. The drawstring assembly 20 would be inserted, or reinserted, in the same manner as previously given for the preferred embodiment.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit to the precise forms disclosed and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain principles and practical application to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

1. A drawstring band assembly disposed about an open edge of a hood of a garment comprising a channel having a first open end and a second open end and a plurality of channel side apertures located longitudinally along said channel.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. The drawstring band assembly of claim 1, wherein said channel comprises a flexible textile material.
 5. The drawstring band assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said channel side apertures are equally spaced from each other.
 6. The drawstring band assembly of claim 1, wherein said channel is internally impregnated with a thermoplastic material.
 7. The drawstring band assembly of claim 1, wherein said channel comprises a portion of an item having an open end wherein said open end is folded over upon itself and hemmed.
 8. A drawstring band assembly disposed about an open edge of a hood of a garment comprising: a channel having a first open end and a second open end; a plurality of channel apertures located longitudinally along said channel; and, a drawstring adapted to be thread through said channel from said first open end to said second open end and having sufficient length to allow distal ends of said drawstring to be drawn and tied by a user.
 9. (canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 11. The drawstring band assembly of claim 8, wherein said channel comprises a flexible textile material.
 12. The drawstring band assembly of claim 8, wherein each of said channel side apertures are equally spaced from each other.
 13. The drawstring band assembly of claim 8, wherein said channel is internally impregnated with a thermoplastic material.
 14. The drawstring band assembly of claim 8, wherein said channel comprises a portion of an item having an open end wherein said open end is folded over upon itself and hemmed.
 15. The drawstring band assembly of claim 8, wherein said drawstring further comprises a leader with an end tab disposed at each distal end.
 16. (canceled)
 17. (canceled)
 18. (canceled) 